2021

Duncan Taylor ‘Dimensions’ Highland Park 20 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Duncan Taylor ‘Dimensions’ Highland Park 20 Year
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

53% ABV
$150-$180
Website
Duncan Taylor Dimensions Highland Park 20 Yr

What the Bottler Says

Bottled at cask strength of 53% ABV and without chill-filtration or artificial colouring, this single malt has matured beautifully as a result of 20 years in an ex-sherry butt. The traditionally lightly-peated notes of Highland Park are still present, however they have softened over time and have been complimented with a hint of salt and notes of mixed fruit, baked apples and honey from the sherry cask.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Peat fire with salted sea mist, fruity with cherries, peaches, raisins, vanilla, chocolate with cedar-smoked pork roast.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel with honey, apples, cherries, pepper, chocolate, toffee, walnuts and peat.
Finish:  Long and damp with fruity peat notes.
Comments:  A rather nice Highland Park bottling. Before researching the bottle details, I would not have pegged this as being fully matured in sherry (first the color isn’t what you’d expect for that age in sherry), so guessing it is a second or maybe third fill sherry (as they have a lot of sherry casks around Highland Park). Which isn’t a bad thing by any stretch – since the retail Highland Park gives you that big sherry take on their distillate. A nice balance that lets the distillery’s character shine through while giving you some of those luscious fruit notes from the sherry.

Rating: Stands Out

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Remus Repeal Reserve Series V Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Remus Repeal Reserve Series V
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$90
Website
Remus Repeal Reserve Series V
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Luxco will debut Remus Repeal Reserve Series V Straight Bourbon Whiskey in September 2021. A limited annual release, Series V is the fifth edition of the award-winning Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon collection. Produced to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Series V showcases a medley of five bourbons ranging from 2005 to 2008, offering a rare taste of the finest cask bourbon selections available from one of the oldest distilleries in the country.

“Remus Repeal Reserve has been such an amazing journey for our distillery team, and we wanted to do something extraordinary for our fifth-year anniversary,” said Master Blender David Whitmer. “Series V exemplifies what our Remus Repeal collection stands for: to showcase the incredible range of medleys and aged reserves we work with in Lawrenceburg. Whether this is your first taste of our Remus Repeal collection or your fifth, Series V represents a particularly special opportunity for us to show you what great bourbon can be.”

Named after the legendary “King of the Bootleggers,” Remus Repeal Reserve is an annual series from George Remus® Bourbon, crafted by the expert distillers at MGP’s 174-year-old distillery in Lawrenceburg, IN. Made in a signature high-rye style, the medley changes each year, allowing the team to experiment with their various mash bills and aged reserves. Remus Repeal Reserve Series V is comprised of:

  • 9% 2005 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 5% 2005 Bourbon (36% Rye)
  • 19% 2006 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 13% 2008 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 54% 2008 Bourbon (36% Rye)

Made from outstanding reserves ranging from 2005 to 2008, Series V leads with dried fruit, rich caramel, maple syrup, roasted nuts and leather. The beginning includes rich toffee and vanilla, followed by chocolate, glazed nuts and oak. The finish offers candied fruit, caramel, baking spice and a lingering oaky rye spice.

Highly anticipated, previous releases of Remus Repeal Reserve have achieved some of the highest recognition in the bourbon category, including a Gold-Best in Class in the 2020 World of Whiskies Competition and 98 points from Tasting Panel Magazine for Remus Repeal Reserve Series IV.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series V retails for a suggested $89.99 per 750-ml bottle and will be available in limited quantities in September 2021 to coincide with National Bourbon Heritage Month. Series V is bottled at 100 proof/50% ABV.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich salted caramel, brown sugar candied bacon, maple syrup, oak, honey, baking spices with herbal hints of oregano.
Palate:  Caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate covered cherries, oak, cinnamon, pepper, orange zest with a bit of nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with chocolate, nutmeg, vanilla and dried mint.
Comments:  This is my first experience with the Remus Repeal Reserve lineup, so can’t compare it to previous releases – but this won’t be the last. This is delicious! With older stock (granted, non-age stated so the parcels may have been tanked at some earlier date, but hard to imagine them sitting on tanked stock for any extended period), this has a nice balance of sweetness, spice, and oak. My palate typically prefers bourbon 12 yrs or younger (with a few exceptions). I just don’t care for ‘oak bombs’, so if you’re looking for heavy oak – this might not fit the bill. Appreciate the transparency of the parcels and mashbills, as well as the 50% ABV. With some water I get more orange notes on the nose and palate, without it losing the balance. A really solid blend of well-made straight bourbons, and in today’s market – priced reasonably.

Rating: Must Try

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Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year-Old

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year-Old
Blended Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$50 (375 mL)
Website

Dewar's Double-Double 21-Year-Old Whisky

What the Blender Says

Our unique Four Stage Ageing Process for Ultimate Smoothness finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks.

Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year-Old is finished in Oloroso sherry casks, this blend delivers subtle notes of cinnamon and ripe vine fruits with a silky smooth finish.

4 STAGE AGEING PROCESS FOR ULTIMATE SMOOTHNESS

Innovation comes in many forms, and in 2019 our Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod, released a new range of Blended Scotch Whiskies with a Four Stage Ageing Process for Ultimate Smoothness. This may sound like an indulgence but the series has been picking up gold medal awards the world over since being released.

We believe that in order to do things right and get the best results you should put in double the effort. So we asked ourselves how we could put in double the effort to our range that was already Double Aged for Extra Smoothness…and it was obvious..double it!

Our Double Double Series has been aged, blended together, aged again, then finished in sherry casks for the Ultimate Smoothness.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dark fruit, bit of toffee, earthiness with smoked brisket, leather, sherry and a subtle vegetal note.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel with plums, pepper spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, bit of an earthy/mineral note, dark chocolate, toffee, almonds and black cherries.
Finish:  Moderately long with dark fruits, pepper spice and a touch of peat.
Comments:  This is a really interesting dram – a tad sharp on the palate at first but a bit of water really smoothes it out nicely. Quite well balanced, with a complexity that introduced me to something new with each sitting. I like this being offered in a 375 mL too because that puts it in reach of many consumers who might otherwise not have access to it, and there aren’t a lot of well aged blended whiskies like this available to them at that price point. AND I appreciate the ABV, as some other offerings from Dewar’s I haven’t enjoyed as much – but suspect would have at something closer to this ABV than 40%. In fact, I can comfortably say this is my favorite Dewar’s to date.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Hercules Mulligan Rum & Rye

/ / Other Spirits, Review / ,

Hercules Mulligan Rum & Rye
Rum, Rye Whiskey, Ginger & Bitters

43% ABV
$50
Website
Hercules Mulligan Rum and Rye

What the Producer Says

Named for the little known tailor, spy, and hero of the American Revolution, who changed history and secured freedom for all, Hercules Mulligan is based on a unique recipe from the period. It’s what Mulligan, the man, stood for, and it’s what this Rum & Rye blend embodies. A spirit of independence.

Simple in its nature – Rum, Rye Whiskey, Ginger & Bitters – yet utterly complex and delightful, this unique composition tickles the nose and loosens the lips.

WHAT MAKES A HERO?
The Balance
A unique recipe from the era of revolution and self-determination, custom-tailored for the modern independent thinker. Perfectly balanced Caribbean Aged Rum & American Rye Whiskey create an equilibrium of duality – a secret to be (re)discovered.

The Unique Character
The Rum & Rye blend is combined with macerated, fresh organic ginger – not artificial flavors. And it’s the essence of this magical root, that gives the blend a kick and builds its distinctive character.

The Audacity Favored by Fortune
The potion is finished with a dash of bespoke bitters that add that extra flavor. No fakery, only honest-to-God ingredients that capture the essence of a bittersweet life.

SPECS
CATEGORY: Rum & Rye
ORIGIN: The US & the Caribbean
NO. OF SPIRITS IN BLEND: 6
HERO INGREDIENTS: Rum, American Rye Whiskeys, tailor-made bitters, fresh ginger

What Gary Says

Nose:  Freshly cut ginger, menthol shaving lather, bitters.
Palate:  Syrupy mouthfeel with candied ginger, rum and bitters.
Finish:  Moderately long, wet with ginger, pepper and honey.
Comments:  So I got this from Flaviar when my quarterly benefit included a ‘free premium bottle’ but the selection offered didn’t have any whisk(e)y I wanted. I like Rock & Rye, like ginger, so what the hell. Glad it was a throw in. The nose on this reminds me of lathering for a wet shave, then slicing fresh ginger into a glass of Bacardi with bitters. I don’t get any rye (maybe the mint from the rye is that menthol note?) Definitely not the sort of thing I’d sip neat. Been trying to find a cocktail that it works in, as it seems like it would be suited for that – but alas, a mixologist I am not.

Rating: Probably Pass/Average

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Booker’s 2021-02 “Tagalong Batch”

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Booker’s “Tagalong Batch” Batch 2021-02
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

6 Years, 5 Months, 0 Days
63.95% ABV
$90
Website
Bookers 2021-02 Tagalong Batch
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

The second release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2021 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2021-02 ‘Tagalong Batch.’ This batch celebrates the way my dad, Booker Noe, learned the ropes at the distillery – by ‘tagging along’ with his grandfather and my great grandfather, Jim Beam.

Growing up, the distillery was like Dad’s playground; he loved spending time with his grandfather and everyone else who worked there, asking questions and expanding his knowledge. That’s ultimately how he developed his curiosity and passion for whiskey, and it was how he became such a talented Master Distiller.

The tradition of ‘tagging along’ has continued generation to generation. I learned much of what I know about whiskey by following in Dad’s footsteps, digesting all of the information I could while working side-by-side at the distillery. It’s also a tradition I continued with my son Freddie, and one I hope he’ll share with his children in the future.

Tagging along had some other rewards too, such as heading to the nearby lake to cast a line together after a hard day’s work. We all have fond memories of that quality time, and I hope you enjoy this batch as part of your quality time with family and friends too.
— Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller

TASTING NOTES
Nose: Aromas of vanilla, caramel and “sweet brown” wood sugar flavors
Taste: Unique, yet unmistakably Booker’s® Bourbon
Finish: Pleasant, warm finish, both sweet and spicy

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich vanilla, caramel, chocolate fudge, oak, peanut brittle, cinnamon, leather, bit of toasted orange zest.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel with fudge, salted caramel, nutmeg, honey, cinnamon, oak, bit of pepper and subtle fruit notes (maybe baked peaches).
Finish:  Moderately long with fudge, caramel and oak.
Comments:  While I don’t have a lineup of previous batches to compare against, I really like this one. I usually get a some chocolate, but this one is more pronounced with it taking on a more fudgy angle. A bit of water amps the peanut notes, brings out a bit more citrus notes on the palate, and tamps the pepper (which isn’t that sharp). And it continues the streak of “hadn’t met a Booker’s I didn’t like!”.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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